Dazzling headlight!

[shop_addict]

I know it's a good idea to ride with your headlight on so that drivers can see you, but my headlight is causing a bit of bother.

Riding home from work just (in the dark, so there wasn't an option to turn the light off) I had my 3rd irate driver in a month wave me past and yell abuse because they think I have my full beam on.

I have noticed that the light seems to be aimed quite high, and try not to shine it straight into a car if I'm stuck behind one, but when riding at a normal speed that's not really an option.

The bike (Yamaha TW125) is due in for it's first service in a couple of weeks - is this something that they could adjust easily, or is it the same on all bikes?

Any advice appreciated, before a motorist thumps me (the one tonight waved me past, yelled at me, then drove 5 yards behind me for about a mile )

Jo

[Barker-CBR 600]

Well if you are sure your riding on dipped beam then it could well be that the light has slipped/been placed into the wrong position.

Check that your full-dipped beam is working and make sure you ride on dipped beam.

If its still a pain... then it might be an idea to see about adjusting it, either yourself or find a mechanically minded mate who has a good idea what angle etc it should be at. (probably find that into somewhere on the net).

When i got my dragstar the headlight was pointing far too high, didnt notice till a service 600 miles later. (not a problem with the CBR since its inside fairing)
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Previous - Gilera DNA50 / XVS125 Dragstar/Honda CBR 600F/GSF 650 Bandit
Current - 2013 Suzuki VZ800 Intruder
'Is this a rhetorical question?'

[shop_addict]

It is definitely on the dipped beam (in fact I rode to work and back yesterday on the side light, seeing as it wasn't dark). In fact, I hate to think what the main beam would do!

I can tell when I'm riding that the beam is aimed too high - when I approach a car (i.e. from about 20 yards to 3 yards behind) my headlight is illumintaing the entire inside of the car in front! It's so bad I often see the driver frantically trying the 'flip' the rear view mirror to stop the dazzle.

Also, my lights are illuminating road signs from quite some distance away when all other vehicles are not (I can tell it's me by opening and cloing the throttle which causes the beam to rise and fall slightly).

I think I'll book my service and get the mechanic to sort it out - he's a decent enough fella so that shouldn't be a problem. Until then I'm going to avoid driving in the dark if I can, so that I don't need to put the headlights on. Let's face it, that's not too bad - it justs means leaving work on time.

[JonB]

Dunno why car drivers moan considering the average car driver takes about 30 seconds to realise you are coming towards them before dipping their lights.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[Flip]

If your light is at the legal angle, then f*ck 'em. Ride on dipped if you feel it really that bright. My instructor makes all his students ride on full beam, so you not doing anything wrong.

[fliz]

Don't drive on full beam, please, it will cause more accidents than prevent. The instructer is wrong. How are car drivers meant to see where they are going if they have spots in thier eyes?
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Fliz

[Git]

[Knisis]

I ride with full beam only when filtering on a dual carriage/motorway.

[shop_addict]

Well it's booked in for a service on Thursday. I asked if they'd look at the headlight angle and the guy said, "Have you been helicopter spotting?" So I guess it's a common problem.

I won't ride with the full beam if something is coming the other way. It's not just car drivers that are blinded by bikes - I smacked into a huge pothole coming home tonight because I couldn't see a bloody thing thanks to the rain and the motorbike coming towards me with his/her full beam on

Jo

[cunni]

Riding with the lights on in the day time can cuase people to pull out on you! It gives false impressions.

Check out this short article, all will be explained: Invisible Bikes

Hope it helps someof you!
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[Ste]

To pick up on one point in that article: "After studying the way a motorcycle approaches a junction, it became apparent that, due to dips/bumps in the carriageway, (common to all roads, even the newly surfaced) a motorcycle bounces slightly on the suspension, as it should. This has the negative effect of creating the illusion of flashing your high beam" Its exactly the same with any vehicle which has a light on it, its not unique to bikes, think about it.

[Rookie]

I have a different problem; my bike was made in the brief period when scooters have to have the dipped beam on constantly, so you only have dipped a full beam settings. The problem is, when I switch to full beam at night, and I have to dip for a car or something, sometime the entire front light goes out, and the 2 tiny side lights stay on. This is very distracting not to mention dangerous; I can barely see where I'm going, and have to brake or pull over if it's that bad. When I switch to full beam again, it works fine, and most often when I dip again it will be fine! Any insights into the problem?
Thanks

[cunni]

Your correct Ste, but what I meant was that car (or other four wheeled vehicles) headlights don't seem anywhere near as bad near junctions. They bounce, you see that, but you can tell it's an undulating road. Bike do appear to 'flash' more, probably the weight issue and rider movement. All I know is, if you haven't got lights on permanently as standard, then don't use them unless it starts getting dark, is foggy or raining really bad!

also, no-one in their right mind pulls out in front of a car, and they are much larger than bikes, so more easily visible. It's a shame people don't just use their head when driving. Sometimes makes me wish I was a traffic cop, pulll the daft sods over and give 'em a dam good verbal kicking!

Anyway, thanks for the comments though, all articles on the site are under constant review and feed back is much appreciated!
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[shop_addict]

Hurrah!

The headlight has now been fixed....and I can return to being a nice person again....rather than "You f***ing w***er, turn yer main beam off!"

Phew!

[Finglonga]

[Rookie]

I dunno, I turned it on yesterday and the same problem happened, I slapped the light, and hey presto! Seems to be ok now, but if it continues to happen I'll get it looked at.

[Finglonga]